Should You Home School Your Children?

Whether or not to home school your child is a major life decision. In a two parent home, both parents should be onboard or the experience may become fraught with tension. Having a home school is a whole family experience. It is not play school; your home school becomes the educational vehicle for your child or children. Because making the decision is so important, many factors must be discussed.

First of all, parents should discuss their reasons for deciding to home school. Maybe the decision is a religious one. Many parents want to give their children a Bible based education rather than a secular one. Today many churches encourage home schooling as a way to keep their children away from education that they deem too ‘progressive.’ If religion is the reason for home schooling, parents must decide which Bible based curriculum they will follow or whether or not to create their own.

Deciding who will be in charge of the home school is of utmost importance. If the home is a traditional one with a stay-at-home parent, the decision is an easy one. The mother will become the teacher. Less traditional would be for the stay-at-home dad to take the lead in the home school. If both parents work, then one parent will have to change careers and begin the stay at home school teacher. This is a primary reason that both parents must be in agreement that having a home school is the best situation for their children.

After both parents are in union about the home school, then it is time to decide exactly what kind of home school they will have. There are numerous companies, some accredited and some not, that offer different home school curriculum plans and materials. Some are traditional, some are religious, and some are very progressive. There are so many choices that parents can become overwhelmed quickly.

Research is an essential part of the process of choosing a home school educational program. With the advent of the Internet, parents have tons of information at their fingertips. Choosing a company should not be a fast process. No parents should look at a company’s web site, take everything on the site as fact, and sign up immediately. The decision the parents are making will affect their child’s future either positively or adversely. Therefore, after choosing several educational home school companies, there is more research to do.

If you know people who are home schooling parents, ask them to look at your choices. If you are friends with some teachers, they may be able to give you advice. If there is a support group in you city for home school parents, join and seek advice. Ultimately, the decision, though, is yours.

The stay-at-home parent should ascertain if the home school company fits his/her needs as well. Because this parent will be in charge each day, he/she must be able to incorporate the curriculum and use it to educate the child. Sometimes, one company is a better fit than others. If a parent hates the computer, then an online home school would not be the best choice.

Choosing to home school is one of the most important and complex decisions parents will ever make. Their child’s future is at stake; therefore, the decisions concerning the home school should not be taken lightly. Research is the key. Learn all you can before making this very important decision.

Copyright 2007 Janice D. Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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